Arson spree - 26th Jun 2008 7:05am
AN ARSONIST is being hunted after 30 firefighters spent the morning battling a string of blazes.
At around 3am four fires were started along New Chester Road in Birkenhead, the first on a HGV trailer near the Global Environmental TV recycling plant at Campbeltown Road.
It contained a large amount of glass and plastic, but as crews struggled to protect the adjoining building three other incidents along the same stretch were reported.
They included a large fire at a tyre store, a bin alight at the nearby McDonalds and a burning phone box.
Six pumps were at the scene, as crews from Bromborough and Wallasey assisted Birkenhead colleagues.
A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “The recycling plant was full of combustibles so we surrounded the trailer with water to prevent it from spreading.
“There are still hotspots at the scene which are cooling but we have been tackling these incidents for around four hours.
“It is clear somebody had been moving along the road setting the fires and our Incident Investigation Team was at the scene.”
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “The road was closed for an hour and our officers will be reviewing CCTV footage.
“We are preserving the scenes for daylight investigation and are working with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.”
At around 3am four fires were started along New Chester Road in Birkenhead, the first on a HGV trailer near the Global Environmental TV recycling plant at Campbeltown Road.
It contained a large amount of glass and plastic, but as crews struggled to protect the adjoining building three other incidents along the same stretch were reported.
They included a large fire at a tyre store, a bin alight at the nearby McDonalds and a burning phone box.
Six pumps were at the scene, as crews from Bromborough and Wallasey assisted Birkenhead colleagues.
A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “The recycling plant was full of combustibles so we surrounded the trailer with water to prevent it from spreading.
“There are still hotspots at the scene which are cooling but we have been tackling these incidents for around four hours.
“It is clear somebody had been moving along the road setting the fires and our Incident Investigation Team was at the scene.”
A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “The road was closed for an hour and our officers will be reviewing CCTV footage.
“We are preserving the scenes for daylight investigation and are working with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service.”
